Austin vs Bucharest vs Istanbul vs Larnaca vs Madrid vs Mexico City

Austin ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ
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Bucharest ๐Ÿ‡ท๐Ÿ‡ด
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Istanbul ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท
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Larnaca ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡พ
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Madrid ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ
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Mexico City ๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ
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Population 926,426 1,830,000 15,520,000 144,900 6,578,0179 8,850,000
Official language(s) English (de facto) Romanian Turkish Greek Spanish Spanish
Level of English Very high High Low High Moderate Moderate
Main airport Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP) Istanbul Airport (IST) Larnaca International Airport (LCA) Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) Mexico City International Airport (MEX)
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November April - October April - June, September and October March - May, October - December March - May, September - November March - May, October, November
Currency USD - US Dollar ($) RON - Romanian Leu (L) TRY - Turkish Lira (โ‚บ) EUR - Euro (โ‚ฌ) EUR - Euro (โ‚ฌ) MXN - Mexican Peso ($)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere Accepted in most places Accepted everywhere Accepted everywhere Widely accepted (less with AMEX)
Remote worker visa No No No No Yes Yes
Average monthly costs $3484 $1351 $659 $1959 $2498 $1867
Rent $1650 $615 $354 $678 $1174 $778
Groceries $243 $114 $44 $157 $175 $281
Dining out $396 $165 $81 $261 $313 $182
Cafe $66 $38 $18 $56 $51 $49
Coworking space $331 $133 $49 $209 $196 $159
Mobile internet $40 $7 $3 $35 $10 $25
Public transportation $110 $21 $6 $63 $78 $11
Taxis $73 $9 $6 $42 $44 $9
Shared bicycles and scooters $96 $25 $2 $45 $49 $24
Sport and cultural events $54 $29 $11 $28 $54 $81
Museums and sights $11 $29 $15 $8 $20 $20
Nightlife $124 $45 $22 $110 $82 $64
Gym $62 $30 $9 $107 $44 $69
Yoga $139 $59 $23 $105 $142 $65
Massage $89 $31 $15 $54 $64 $51
SIM card options AT&T, T-Mobile. Vodafone, Orange Turkcell, Turk Telekom Primetel, Cytamobile-Vodafone and Epic/MTN Orange, Movistar, Vodafone Telcel, Movistar
Tipping 15-20% at restaurants, 1USD or more per drink at cafes and bars 5% - 10% at restaurants, 5% - 10% tip for services is appreciated but not expected, round up for taxis Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafรฉs and bars 10% usually added and expected at restaurants, round up at bars Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated. 10-15% for restaurants, bars and services
Taxi apps Uber, Lyft Star Taxi, Uber BiTaksi nTaxi Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now Uber
Tap water Drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Not drinkable Drinkable Not drinkable
Overall cuisine Emphasis on barbecued meats (beef and pork) as well as corn-based dishes and tex-mex, and rich American-style desserts. Wide range of meat and fish dishes, soups, salads and cheeses influenced by German, Hungarian, Turkish, Greek and Ukrainian cuisine. A fusion of cultures creates diverse dishes with bulgur, koftes, stews, eggplants and fish Mediterranean style with emphasis on seafood, meats, olives, cheesed and traditional sauces. Some food with Middle Eastern influences as well.. Fresh, regional produce accentuated with garlic and olive oil and mixed with various meats and seafoods. Influenced both by Mediterranean and Middle-Eastern flavors. Corn, beans, tortillas and chili peppers typically alongside meat and cheese
Local food specialities Frito pie, queso, apple pie, kolaches, BBQ ribs, tacos Sarmale, mฤƒmฤƒligฤƒ, mici, ciolan cu fasole, ciorbฤƒ de burtฤƒ, covrig, papanasi Dรถner, ฤฐรงli Kรถfte, Dondurma, Karnฤฑyarฤฑk, Turkish delight Souvlaki, sheftalia, kleftiko, stifado, halloumi, koukepia and moussaka Paella, tapas, tortilla, gazpacho, pulpo a la gallega, callos a la madrileรฑa, churros Enchiladas, torta de chilaquiles, esquites, quesadillas, tlacoyos, tacos, tostadas
Eat like a local Local tex-mex restaurants, lunch BBQ joints, taquerias, food trucks, local breweries Set lunch menus, cafe terraces, cofeterias Traditional breakfasts, street stalls for simit, lahmacun and kokorec, Turkish coffee Opt for smaller, outside eateries and taverns serving traditional foods. Fast food kebab shops and falafel bars offer authentic options, too. Have some tapas and sangria at a tasca and paella at an authentic eatery. Keep an eye on the time and visit a cafeteria for a mid-afternoon merienda and some churros! Markets, food stalls, menรบ del dรญa (cheap set lunch menus)
Vegetarian / vegan options 30 options on HappyCow 33 listings on Happy Cow 59 listings on Happy Cow 14 options on HappyCow, but non-meat Mediterranean/Middle Eastern options are always available 85 listings on Happy Cow 279 listings on Happy Cow